Computational models of the emergence of self-exploration in 2-month-old infants

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21230%2F25%3A00389928" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21230/25:00389928 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDL63968.2025.11204351" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDL63968.2025.11204351</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ICDL63968.2025.11204351" target="_blank" >10.1109/ICDL63968.2025.11204351</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Computational models of the emergence of self-exploration in 2-month-old infants

Original language description

Infants actively explore the relationship between actions and their associated effects (i.e., sensorimotor contingencies) before full-blown agency emerges. While there is experimental evidence for this development during the first year of life, the interplay of the associated cognitive processes is not yet well understood. This paper uses computational modeling to examine how exploratory behavior develops, based on one of the earliest experiments showing such behavior. In a seminal study of Rochat & Striano (1999), 2-month-old infants, contrary to newborns, showed differential behavioral patterns towards mouth-contingent sounds versus random sounds. This is interpreted as early evidence for action-effect exploration. We consider seven potential developmental factors as possibly explaining the emergence of active exploratory behavior in 2-month-olds: i) outcome prediction, ii) novelty preference, iii) fatigue, iv) strength, v) memory, vi) sensory noise, and vii) motor noise. These factors were implemented in both a supervised-learning model and a reinforcement learning model. Results from both models indicate that increased memory capacity with age is a key developmental factor underlying active exploration and, possibly, agency. Our code is published at: https://github.com/SpisakJ/Computational-models-of-the-emergence-of-self-exploration-in-2-month-old-infants.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

D - Article in proceedings

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10201 - Computer sciences, information science, bioinformathics (hardware development to be 2.2, social aspect to be 5.8)

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Article name in the collection

2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL)

ISBN

979-8-3315-4343-3

ISSN

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e-ISSN

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Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

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Publisher name

IEEE Conference Publications

Place of publication

Piscataway

Event location

Praha

Event date

Sep 16, 2025

Type of event by nationality

WRD - Celosvětová akce

UT code for WoS article

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